A Tiffany & Co. Chased Repoussé Partial Gilt Silver Three-Handle Presentation Cup, New York, 1898. Marks: TIFFAN...

Description

A Tiffany & Co. Chased Repoussé Partial Gilt Silver Three-Handle Presentation Cup, New York, 1898
Marks: TIFFANY & CO., 13628 MAKERS 1666, STERLING SILVER, 925-1000, T
12 x 11-1/2 x 11-1/2 inches (30.5 x 29.2 x 29.2 cm)
5150 grams (165.58 troy ounces)

Inscription to rim: DN / TO DAVID NEVINS FROM THE DIRECTORS OF THE AMERICAN MANUFACTURING COMPANY
Inscription to body: O PASS THE LOVING CUP OF FRIENDSHIP ROUND
Inscription to the underside: The American Manufacturing Co. / David Nevins, Pres't. / Anderson Gratz, Vice Pres't. / Benj. B. Graham. James S. Murdoch / John D. Filley. Lorraine F. Jones / Charles E. Pearce. John V. Doniphan / Waters S. Davis, Jr. / January 24th, 1898

The magnificent cup, with its slightly bulbous body, is richly ornamented with tightly chased repoussé foliage interwoven with emblems of the arts and sciences. Rising from the body are three finely modeled handles in the form of winged caducei, framing three reserves: one with a portrait silhouette of David Nevins, one with his monogram "DN," and the third inscribed, "O Pass the Loving Cup of Friendship Round." Beneath the rim appears the presentation inscription, "To David Nevins from the Directors of the American Manufacturing Company," while the underside bears the engraved names of the directors and the date, January 24, 1898.
Tiffany & Co. presentation silver of the late 19th century represents the firm at its most ambitious-objects that combined technical virtuosity with layered symbolism, created to honor individuals at moments of professional and social significance. The present three-handled cup stands as a particularly accomplished example of this tradition.
The inscription, "O Pass the Loving Cup of Friendship Round," draws upon the language of the Anglo-American loving cup tradition, evoking fellowship, esteem, and shared purpose. Such phrasing reinforces the cup's role as a commemorative object, presented in recognition of achievement and affiliation.
It was in this spirit that the cup was presented by the directors of the American Manufacturing Company to David Nevins Jr. (1839-1898), a principal figure in one of the largest cordage and bagging enterprises of the period. Founded in 1890 and headquartered in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, the company operated a vast industrial complex and played a significant role in global shipping infrastructure at the height of the Gilded Age.
The timing of the presentation is particularly notable. Within seven months, Nevins traveled to Bad Nauheim, Germany-a well-known destination for therapeutic mineral baths-where he died on August 24, 1898. Today, the caduceus is more commonly recognized as a symbol of medicine, lending an additional layer of resonance to the design.
As both object and artifact, the cup reflects the convergence of artistry, industry, and social ritual that defined Tiffany's presentation wares. It stands as a testament not only to the firm's craftsmanship, but to the cultural language of honor and achievement in late 19th-century America.

PROVENANCE:
From the Ray Bentley Collection;
Morphy Auctions, Denver, Pennsylvania, Fine & Decorative Arts, December 5-6, 2018, lot 1210;
Acquired from the above by current owner.

Property from a Houston Collection

Estimate: $25,000 - $35,000.

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